in the 1980 film The Elephant Man, is based on Norman. Later life Norman remained a travelling showman for another 10 years following his encounter with Joseph Merrick, and exhibited, among others, a troupe of midgets, a 'Man in a Trance', John Chambers the armless Carpenter and the 'World's Ugliest Woman'. In 1893, he announced that he was leaving for Chicago and advertised his goods for sale, but in the end, he never went. He became involved with the temperance movement and was the vice-president of the Van Dwellers Protection Association (which later became the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain). He became a showman's auctioneer, auctioning novelty shows and circuses and according to the World's Fair, presided over more such sales than any other auctioneer in the country at that time. Norman married the theatre performer Amy Rayner in 1896, and they had six sons and four daughters. The family moved to Croydon, and Norman went into semi-retirement, selling off some of his shops. In 1905 he sold showman "Lord" George Sanger's zoo, and then all of Sanger's circus effects, an achievement Norman called "the crowning point in my life as regards the auctioneering business". He made his comeback in 1919 with the exhibition of 'Phoebe the Strange Girl' in Birmingham and Margate. Final years and death Norman died of throat cancer on 24 August 1930 at Croydon Hospital, aged 70. Five of his children followed him into circus careers: George and Arthur Norman became circus clowns while Tom and Jim Norman worked in fairgrounds. Ralph Van Norman (known professionally as Hal Denver) became a travelling Wild West performer, appearing throughout Europe and the United States. Portrayals Norman was depicted in David Lynch's 1980 film The Elephant Man by Freddie Jones, although here, he was named Mr Bytes. References Bibliography 1860 births 1930 deaths English butchers English businesspeople People from Rother District Sideshows English auctioneers